2019 MS Governor's race: on Social Security

Jim Hood: Let public employees run for office & still draw pensions

Some education supporters envisioned that the ruling would result in more pro-education retired teachers running and winning legislative seats.

Of Gunn's prediction that the opinion would be changed, Hood said, "The PERS Board voted overwhelmingly to move forward with adopting regulations effective at the start of the 2020 legislative session that would allow state retirees to serve in the Legislature without forfeiting their hard-earned retirement. This won't change with a new AG. I support everyone's right to run, and I think people who have worked as public servants for the state would make great lawmakers."

Jim Hood: Encourage more state retirees to run for state legislature

The once obscure question of whether retired public employees can collect state pensions while serving in the Mississippi Legislature looms large in some Democrats' electoral hopes for 2019 [by allowing more experienced candidates to run for the state legislature]. Hood accused Republicans of trying to pressure the pension system board to flout his opinion or delay complying until after the March 1 election qualifying deadline. That could cut retired public employees running for office.